Apparatus for controlling the loading of workpieces onto a pallet

Abstract

A loading management apparatus for managing the loading of a plurality of types of workpieces onto a pallet is disclosed which is small in size, simple in structure and inexpensive to manufacture, and hence is particularly suitable for handling a relatively small number of workpieces. An operator can load a plurality of types of workpieces onto a pallet in a predetermined pattern with extreme ease in accordance with an imaged loading instruction which is displayed. The condition of the loaded workpieces is also displayed so that if there is an error or disagreement between the loading instruction and the condition of the loaded workpieces, the operator is immediately warned of such an error, thus enabling appropriate action to be taken for proper or correct loading.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An interactive load management apparatus for managing the loading of a plurality of workpieces onto a pallet, said apparatus comprising: a display device;   pattern instruction means for preparing a workpiece pattern instruction image, representing the contents of a workpiece load pattern, by specifying workpieces by kind, number of workpieces of each kind, and load order of the workpieces, and for generating a signal representing the instruction image;   pattern detecting means for detecting the pattern of workpieces loaded on the pallet, and for generating a signal representing the detected pattern;   interactive display control means, connected to said display device, connected to said pattern instruction means, and connected to said pattern detecting means, for first receiving the signal from said pattern instruction means and displaying the pattern instruction image on said display device, and for subsequently receiving the signal from said pattern detecting means and interactively modifying the displayed image to simultaneously display the pattern instruction image and the detected workpiece pattern; and   pattern comparison means, connected to said pattern instruction means and said pattern detecting means, for detecting disagreement between the signal representing the pattern instruction image and the signal representing the detected loaded workpiece pattern.